IA-SIG Newsletter "The Interactive Audio Journal" www.iasig.org ************************************************************************************* Vol. 1 No. 1, March 15th 1999 Editor: Alexander Brandon ************************************************************************************* In This Issue Section I: From the Chairman ¾ IA-SIG Chairman, Mark Miller, discusses the IA-SIG's 1999 goals Section II: Official Announcements ¾ All official announcements regarding IA-SIG members, activities, and special events. In this Issues, the IA-SIG at GDC and IMX. Section III: Working Group Reports ¾ Status Reports from the 3D Working Group, the Interactive Composition Working Group, The Audio Advisory working Group, The Platform Development Working Group and the Multi Format working Group. Section IV: Features ¾ This section contains features and columns on varied topics of IA-SIG interest. This issue features our first Interactive Composition Column, "A Direct Music Primer" by Alexander Brandon and Mark Miller Section V: Industry Corner ¾ Tools and technology development are the driving forces behind the realization of musical creativity. This section features reviews and directories of useful tools, technologies, and applications. This issue we have an "Engine Roundup" directory of Interactive Music Engines by Alexander Brandon Section VI: Developers Corner ¾ At last, a place where the developers can speak their minds. The interactive audio industry is bursting with men and women ready to both complain and cheer about various aspects of their work. Here is an outlet for them. This issue features comments from Marty O'Donnell, Chris Grigg, David Javelosa and Spencer Critchley If you are interested in contributing to "The Interactive Audio Journal" please contact Mark Miller ([email protected]) ************************************************************************************* Please Join the IA-SIG! The Interactive Audio Special Interest Group (IA-SIG) exists to allow developers of audio software, hardware, and content to freely exchange ideas about "interactive audio". The goal of the group is to improve the performance of interactive applications by influencing hardware and software design, as well as leveraging the combined skills of the audio community to make better tools. The IA-SIG has been influential in the development of audio standards, features, and APIs for Microsoft Windows and other platforms, and has helped numerous hardware companies define their directions for the future. Anyone with a commercial interest in multimedia audio is encouraged to become a member of the IA-SIG and participate in IA-SIG discussions. (Visit http://www.iasig.org for membership details). ************************************************************************************* IASIG NEWSLETTER VOLUME 1 ISSUE 1 MARCH 1999 PAGE 1 IA-SIG Steering Committee Chairman: Mark Miller ([email protected]) Steering Committee Members: Rob Hubbard (EA), Monty Schmidt (Sonic Foundry), Danny Petkevich (Staccato systems), Brian Schmidt (Microsoft), Alexander Brandon (Straylight Productions), Tom White (MIDI Manufacturers Association). IASIG Advisory Board Thomas Dolby Robertson (Headspace), David Mash (Berklee), Craig Anderton (EQ), Gordon Currie (Portal Productions), Dale Gulick (AMD), Rudy Helm (Helm Productions) ************************************************************************************* IA-SIG Glossary of Terms · "DLS" ¾ DownLoadable Sounds, this is a standard created by the IA-SIG to allow users of computer audio cards and software synthesizers to create their own instruments and sounds rather than be limited to a specific sound set. · "WG" ¾ Working Group, the working end of IA-SIG, these groups represent various causes in the interactive audio industry. They work towards goals that might not otherwise be possible in any other body. · "GDC" ¾ Game Developers Conference, held once each year, this conference brings together some of the best in the game industry for both computers and game console systems to discuss current issues, teach classes, and explore new opportunities for gaming. ************************************************************** Section I: From the Chairman ============================= “IA-SIG in 1999” With the GDC right around the corner, I thought that I would drop you all a note about the IASIG's plans for '99. As I see it, this is a most critical year for us. While we have had some great recent successes with DLS and 3D Audio, the pace of change in our industry is accelerating. Our standard work is even more crucial and important now than at any time in the past. With the help of the Steering Committee and the new Advisory Board, I have set the following strategic priorities for our organization in the coming year. Where we have succeeded in the past, we will continue. Where we continue, we will improve. The IASIG has been very successful in bringing the industry together and solving some of our most vexing problems: · DLS I is finally entering the main stream · DLS II will unify Sound Fonts and DLS and gain even wider adoption through its inclusion in the forthcoming MPEG 4 standard · Hardware accelerated interactive 3D audio is working well in DirectX and is being used in almost every cutting edge game published · We plan to announce the Interactive 3D Audio Level 2 specification at GDC. While we have occasionally taken longer than we would have liked, none can doubt the impact of our work. Into the new year, we will continue to form relevant Working Groups and create meaningful and useful Standards and Practices documents. In addition, we will endeavor to improve our operations in the following ways: IASIG NEWSLETTER VOLUME 1 ISSUE 1 MARCH 1999 PAGE 2 1) Get the word out! The IASIG is in the information business. The standards and practices that we create through the WG process are our products. The people who create audio content or audio technology for interactive platforms are our customers. In the coming year, our main goal will be to improve the efficiency and scale of the distribution of our products to our customers. To achieve this, we will undertake a major new initiative. Beginning in March of '99, the IASIG will publish (via email) a quarterly newsletter containing the news and information that is of vital importance to our industry. Each issue, each Working Group will publish their quarterly results and findings along with as much people, product, and technology news as we can gather. My hope is that this publication will quickly become the industry's main source of information on Interactive Audio. Alexander Brandon will be heading up this effort. Anyone who is interested in becoming involved or who has news that is 'fit to print' should contact Alex <[email protected]> or myself directly. 2) Target the adoption cycle of software developers. New audio technology and features are great. The innovations and evolutions of each successive generation of hardware and software audio technology is the life's blood of our business. However, if these new features are not supported by software developers, chances are, no end users will ever enjoy the benefit. If the consumer sees no tangible reward for upgrading the platform, our market will wither and all will suffer. Yet, if the software development community adopts each new level of technology uniformly as it emerges into the marketplace, the upgrade proposition will be a very attractive one to the end user and all will prosper. It is our mission as the IASIG to come to agreement on how to move the consumer and developer forward and then package that information in a single, simple 'upgrade' message. Using our newsletter, our other journalistic efforts, conference venues like the GDC and our ongoing work with the providers of audio SDKs, we will dramatically increase our efforts to educate the software development community and consumer and facilitate their adoption of new audio technology. 3) Strategically take the long view where possible. Collectively, we represent many of the best minds in the audio industry. While it is often difficult to spend our time thinking beyond the present fiscal quarter, it is perhaps the most valuable contribution we can make. For example, three years ago, the Interactive Composition Working Group took on just such a challenge. We created a lexicon and began to explore the outer limits of Interactive Composition well before it had much of any main stream importance. As a result, we were ready when DirectMusic was being born and many of our terms and ideas were subsequently adopted (for the benefit of all involved.) In this year, I want to encourage those of you who have the vision (or the luxury) of investing in the exploration of the next two to four years, to initiate more forward thinking discussions and Working Groups. If we can execute on these points, I believe that we will rise to a new level and come fully into our own as an organization. I am grateful to all of you for all of the hard work that you have done to date and look forward to a great new year. Yours, Mark Miller Chairman ************************************************************************************* IASIG NEWSLETTER VOLUME 1 ISSUE 1 MARCH 1999 PAGE 3 Section II: Official Announcements ================================ “I3DL2” For Release March 18th, 1999 : “Industry leading companies pledge support for enhancements to Interactive 3D Audio.” This week, Creative Labs, Aureal Semiconductor, QSound Labs, Sensura, Conexant, VLSI Technologies,